Tsvangirai was to meet leaders of Sadc’s politics, defense and security organ, including President Jacob Zuma yesterday, Mozambican leader Armando Guebuza today and Sadc chairman, President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, later in the week. Kabila is an ally of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
Tsvangirai on Friday withdrew his Movement for Democratic Change’s (MDC’s) co-operation with Mugabe’s Zanu (PF) over the detention of MDC treasurer and senator Roy Bennett a day earlier.
He also cited continuing disputes over the appointment by Mugabe of central bank governor Gideon Gono and attorney-general Johannes Tomana as reasons for suspending participation in the fragile power- sharing government. MDC MPs boycotted a cabinet meeting yesterday.
Mugabe spokesman George Charamba dismissed the stay-away, saying at the weekend cabinet meetings would go ahead.
Separately, the high court yesterday postponed Bennett’s trial to November 9. Bennett was initially expected to stand trial yesterday but the state conceded it had not given the defense team enough time to prepare. The prosecution said it had six witnesses in its "terrorism" case against Bennett.
Source: Allafrica